auto to manual (again!)

[ambsdric]

hey guys sorry im asking this question. i know its been asked alot already but i have a few questions that i still need answered. i have a 96 ranger 3.0 auto and i have had the worst trouble with my auto tranny. having been through 5 trannys i need a manual.
- first of all what manual tranny do i get to replace the current auto?
- second when i change the trannys out do i need to get a new computer?
any help you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[zachis4wheeling]

Alright....not 100% sure on which manual to use, but if I remember correctly, the Mazda M5OD R1 should work for ya.

I can tell you right now, what you're getting yourself into is not an easy task by any means. Unless you know exactaly what you're doing, I can't see something like this getting done in a weekend.

You are going to need a new computer. One from a truck with a 3.0 and a 5 speed IIRC.

You are going to need to get pedals and the appropriate brackets as well from a manual truck.

You are going to need to get a new flywheel.

You are going to need tto get a new starter for a 3.0 truck witha manual

You are going to need to get the new floor cover plate that is made for trucks with a manual versus the one you have in there now that's for an automatic. When ya pull yur carpwt back, you'll see what I mean. It's in the tranny hump.

You are going to need a Clutch pedal position sensor

You are also going to need the whole clutch fluid reservoir system that bolts to the firewall.

Like I said, it's not an easy task......I'm in the process of converting my A4LD over to a 5 speed. The easiest thing to do honestly is find a parts truck and steal all the manual stuff off of it....or just go buy a truck that came from the factory witha manual.

Hope some of this helped....

 

[engdept]

Alright....not 100% sure on which manual to use, but if I remember correctly, the Mazda M5OD R1 should work for ya.

MUST be from a 3.0 Ranger too.

I can tell you right now, what you're getting yourself into is not an easy task by any means. Unless you know exactaly what you're doing, I can't see something like this getting done in a weekend.

I helped Maurice (mjones) do his Ranger and Bronco II; both were done in about 8 hours. The Ranger was easier because it had a body lift.

You are going to need a new computer. One from a truck with a 3.0 and a 5 speed IIRC.

Correct.

You are going to need to get pedals and the appropriate brackets as well from a manual truck.

There is no other bracket besides the clutch/brake pedal assembly.

You are going to need to get a new flywheel.

Yes, a new flywheel is the way to go. They only run about $60 from any auto parts stores; you will spend that much finding someplace to resurface a used one.

You are going to need tto get a new starter for a 3.0 truck witha manual

Correct

You are going to need to get the new floor cover plate that is made for trucks with a manual versus the one you have in there now that's for an automatic. When ya pull yur carpwt back, you'll see what I mean. It's in the tranny hump.

Yes and no. You can cut the hole in it, but getting the proper plate is the way to go; it made Maurice's Ranger swap much easier.

You are going to need a Clutch pedal position sensor

Correct. I think Maurice has an extra one if anyone is looking for one. I will ask him tonight while we work on his Bronco II.

You are also going to need the whole clutch fluid reservoir system that bolts to the firewall.

This can be found on eBay new for about $60. It is worth it as it is MUCH easier to go this route then pulling one off a parts truck (not to mention that most off eBay also come with the CPP switch).

Like I said, it's not an easy task......I'm in the process of converting my A4LD over to a 5 speed. The easiest thing to do honestly is find a parts truck and steal all the manual stuff off of it....or just go buy a truck that came from the factory witha manual.

It is much easier to convert than you think. If you have all the tools, then it can be done in about 8-10 hours.


On an extra note, get yourself a set of female torx sockets. The flywheel bolts can be that kind.

Also, you will want to get yourself NEW flywheel bolts and pressure plate bolts. They will run you about $10 from a dealership.

 

[metalmacguyver]

The M5OD-R1 is the only manual tranny used behind a 3.0.


Wow. 5 Trannys. Thats impressive dude.

 

[90rangersuper]

just swapped mine over from the a4ld to the m50d, very easy, i did not have a parts truck so i forgot a few things when i did my swap, like pressure plate bolts, other than that, not bad, if you have any questions just pm me, ill be glad to help

 

[rboyer]

Just put a post in the "Wanted to Buy" section of the forum for the parts that people have mentioned that you need. I know that you would have no problem finding most of the stuff, the manual trans for the 3.0 might be the hardest but you'll find it sooner or later. You probably should have went to a manual right after you killed your first automatic, if you did you would most likely have a wad of cash in your pocket right now from not having to spend money on the several other automatic transmissions that you went through.

 

[zachis4wheeling]

I helped Maurice (mjones) do his Ranger and Bronco II; both were done in about 8 hours. The Ranger was easier because it had a body lift.


It is much easier to convert than you think. If you have all the tools, then it can be done in about 8-10 hours.


On an extra note, get yourself a set of female torx sockets. The flywheel bolts can be that kind.

Also, you will want to get yourself NEW flywheel bolts and pressure plate bolts. They will run you about $10 from a dealership.

I understand that this may be an easy task for someone who has the right tools and who has done this sort of thing before, but for an amateur, I think it can be quite intimidating.....I just would hate to see someone jump into this without knowing the parts or labor that goes into this that you'd need beforehand. But yeah, if you know wtf yur doin, then I don't see why you couldn't get it done in 8-10 hrs.

Do you have to use the Torx bolts? Could you just go to a specialty bolt manufacturer and have them match up thread pitch and bolt size and put regular bolts in there to make it easier to work on?

You probably should have went to a manual right after you killed your first automatic, if you did you would most likely have a wad of cash in your pocket right now from not having to spend money on the several other automatic transmissions that you went through.

.....lol....way to tell him there Captain Obvious....lol

 

[Rolled Ranger]

After killing my first auto, I am starting to gather things for a swap. The tranny off a 2.9 will fit my 4.0, but not the tranny off a 3.0. Right?

 

[mkpecor]

ya rolled you want a 5-speed tranny from a 4.0 or 2.9 the bell houseing is the same. 3.0 will not work the bell houseing is a different bolt pattern.

 

[ambsdric]

yeah five trannys. i only had to pay for one. the first one failed and so did the next 4 all under warrenty so i was covered. 2 of the trannys only lasted 1 day. never going to that place again.

 

[Rolled Ranger]

"The only downside to swapping in an early Mitsubishi for an A4LD is that you need the tranny cross member that bolts INSIDE the frame. On the Mitsubishi's there is no t-case adapter as it is built into the tranny. This causes the tranny cross member to be moved 2.5" toward the motor and you need to lengthen the rear driveshaft and shorten the front one."

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/InterchangingTansmissions.html


This is from the tech library. How do you do that? Is that only if you use a tranny from a 2.8?

 

[rboyer]

Doing the swap isn't really a matter of having the right tools as much as it is having the right parts all in front of you when you are ready to do the work. I have already removed a 2wd M5OD transmission out of a vehicle at the junkyard with a set of ratchet wrenches, a multi-bit screwdriver, and a factory lugwrench out of another vehicle (19mm but eventually did the job on the 18mm crossmember bolts). There are not really any specialty tools involved in the whole process and if you already have a small basic tool collection then what few things you do need may not even cost over $10. My suggestion would be to do your research and get the whole thing in your head then buy everything that you need. Get a fresh start with a whole weekend ahead of you and make sure that you aren't depending on having the truck running right away just so that you don't try to rush things. I'm not saying that it will actually take you a whole weekend to get the thing running, but it is always nice to allow yourself extra time when doing something like that for the first time. And if you get stuck i'm sure you can find the information on this forum to bump you in the right direction.

 

[engdept]

"The only downside to swapping in an early Mitsubishi for an A4LD is that you need the tranny cross member that bolts INSIDE the frame. On the Mitsubishi's there is no t-case adapter as it is built into the tranny. This causes the tranny cross member to be moved 2.5" toward the motor and you need to lengthen the rear driveshaft and shorten the front one."

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/InterchangingTansmissions.html


This is from the tech library. How do you do that? Is that only if you use a tranny from a 2.8?

The only Ranger/Explorer/Bronco II transmission that is a different length is the FM-132 and the FM-145. They are both shorter than the other transmissions. The FM-146, M50D, A4LD, 4R55E, 5R44E, and 5R55E are all the same length.

As long as you have a 4wd transmission, there will be no problem replacing a 4wd transmission. The transfer case will bolt to any Ranger/Bronco II/Explorer 4wd transmission without any problems.

As for the crossmember, you don't need to move or get a different crossmember unless you originally had the FM-145 transmission.

Do you have to use the Torx bolts? Could you just go to a specialty bolt manufacturer and have them match up thread pitch and bolt size and put regular bolts in there to make it easier to work on?

Some years had the torx bolts and some didn't. When we didi mjones' '97 Ranger, it had the torx bolts. When we did his Bronco II, he got parts off a '95 4.0 and they didn't have the torx bolts. The bolts from the dealer is much cheaper than going and getting them from a speciality shop. I think he paid around $10 for flywheel and pressure plate bolts.

 

[AllanD]

You are going to need tto get a new starter for a 3.0 truck witha manual

INCORRECT.

there is only ONE starter for the 3.0.

the "different starter for manual trans" thing ONLY applies to the 4.0
(OR to people who put a 4.0 clutch onto a 2.9)

"The only downside to swapping in an early Mitsubishi for an A4LD is that you need the tranny cross member that bolts INSIDE the frame. On the Mitsubishi's there is no t-case adapter as it is built into the tranny. This causes the tranny cross member to be moved 2.5" toward the motor and you need to lengthen the rear driveshaft and shorten the front one."

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/InterchangingTansmissions.html


This is from the tech library. How do you do that? Is that only if you use a tranny from a 2.8?

Actually quite wrong.

There is no transfer case "adapter" the tranmissions for 2wd and 4x4 are distinctly different from each other.
so any "adapter" as you call it is ALWAYS "part of the transmission"

what changes is that the C3, C5, TK-5 and FM145 transmissions were SHORTER (bellhousing to mount) than the later A4LD which was introduced in mid-85

2wd RBV transmission are essentially the same OAL.

the FM146 (and 2wd FM132), the M5OD-R1 were specifically designed to have the same OAL and mount position as the A4LD.

There is no need to the "inside the frame" crossmember that was used '83-85.

There would be a need to RELOCATE the transmission crossmember.

 

[zachis4wheeling]

My bad Allan.....I thought that the starters were different like on the 4.0 swap.......

When I do this, I'll prolly just end up getting the Torx head bolts....

Zach